BOTETOURT, Va. – The Mid-America Christian University softball team entered play at the 2018 NCCAA World Series on Saturday as the number seven seed in the tournament, and in search of their first victory in World Series Play. The Lady Evangels' only other appearance in the championship came in 2016 when they lost all three of their games.
MACU (39-21) was competitive for much of the day, but a pair of big innings did in the Lady Evangels in a 9-3 loss to Cincinnati Christian University (25-20), and double plays sunk MACU in their second pool play game – a 2-1 loss to Warner University (36-15).
Cincinnati Christian jumped on top from the start in game one, as Valerie Hudepohl homered on the first pitch of the game to give CCU a 1-0 lead. The Eagles added three more runs in the frame, and they tallied twice more in the top of the second inning to take a 6-0 lead.
MACU got on the board in the bottom of the second when Hannah Salmon was hit by a pitch and later scored on a passed ball. Ribbin Anderson singled home Jessica Johnson in the inning as well as MACU cut the deficit to 6-2. Anderson singled again in the fifth, and she stole both second and third base before scoring on an RBI groundout from Courtney Hickman to trim the margin to 6-3, but that was as close as MACU got.
Cincinnati Christian added three unearned runs in the top of the sixth inning, and the Lady Evangels did not threaten again in the game, as CCU took the win, 9-3.
Kaila Sturgess (9-6) allowed three runs on five hits in the complete game victory, and she walked two and struck out four. Regan Martin (14-8) allowed nine runs – though only three were earned – on 11 hits, two walks, and one strikeout in the loss.
MACU drew first blood in game two of the day against Warner, scoring a run in the top of the first inning. Anderson singled and came around to score on a base hit from Salmon to give MACU a 1-0 lead, and that lead held into the bottom of the third frame.
The Royals scored twice in the inning, once on a bunt play and once on a throwing error, to take a 2-1 lead, and though the Lady Evangels had their chances, they were unable to push across any more runs. One reason for that inability was the double play ball. MACU hit into inning-ending twin killings in the second, third, and sixth innings, and while Larie Amos kept the Royals at bay, MACU was never able to draw level as the Lady Evangels fell in the game 2-1.
Brooke Olinger (6-2) allowed only one run on nine hits and no walks with one strikeout in the complete game victory. Larie Amos (9-5) also pitched well, allowing two runs – only one earned – on four hits and two walks in six innings.
MACU had to settle for the No. 7-seed in the single-elimination bracket, which will play out on Thursday. The Lady Evangels will play at 11 a.m. EDT on Thursday morning in a rematch of Wednesday's second game against Warner University. The winner will advance to face the winner of the game between Central Baptist College and Cincinnati Christian in the semifinal round on Friday at Noon EDT.
